Tom Hanks: These Are His Best Movies of All Time
Tom Hanks is arguably one of the most beloved and most successful actors in Hollywood. His resume is extensive and his reputation is pristine. Tom Hanks is one of those names that you can mention and everyone will know who you are talking about.
Hanks began acting in 1980 and has accumulated nearly 90 acting credits since then. In addition to acting, he has also found success in writing, directing, and producing. Plus his 30-year marriage to actress Rita Wilson is something that is almost unheard of in Hollywood. The actor has so many enormously popular movies that it’s hard to narrow down the list of his best movies without someone feeling like a great movie was forgotten. So here’s our attempt to list
‘Forrest Gump’
“Hello, my name’s Forrest. Forrest Gump.”
You can’t have a list of Tom Hanks movies without including Forrest Gump. If you had to choose a movie that the actor is best known for, it just may be the story of a man who fought insurmountable odds to pursue happiness and do good.
Forrest Gump was released in 1994 and won Hanks an Oscar for his performance. It created many memorable lines including, “Run Forrest, Run!” and “Life was like a box of Chocolates, you never know what you gonna get.” The film even inspired a popular restaurant chain, Bubba Gumps.
‘Cast Away’
FedEx worker Chuck Noland finds himself alone and stranded when the plane he is traveling on makes a crash landing on a deserted island. Chuck has nothing other than himself and the packages that have floated to shore from the wrecked plane.
After an attempt to find help fails, Chuck must learn to survive on the island. The isolation and environment cause him to undergo significant changes to his physical and mental state. Through his loneliness, he finds a friend in Wilson, a volleyball who he has given a face and started talking to.
Hanks’ performance received positive critical acclaim and earned him an Oscar nomination. Like Forrest Gump, Cast Away continues to be regarded as one of the actor’s most well-known roles and also spawned the release of special Wilson volleyballs.
‘Toy Story’
Hanks has voiced the loveable cowboy, Woody in all three Toy Story films and will appear in the fourth installment that is currently in post-production. Though it’s not a role that will ever win Hanks an Oscar, Toy Story is a film that has entertained kids and adults for over 20 years now.
Hanks brings so much charisma and character to the animated film that it feels like you can almost see him through the eyes of the 2D character. Fans can check out Woody and his crew in Toy Story 4 this summer.
‘The Green Mile’
Hanks plays corrections office Paul Edgecomb in the 1999 film The Green Mile. The book is based on a Stephen King novel, so naturally, the film is heavy on the creepy and terrifying. The film begins in 1999 in a Louisiana nursing home. Paul recounts his time spent on the green mile (death row) and the inmates and officers he worked with.
During his time on the green mile, Paul comes to know inmate John Coffey and soon learns that he has supernatural powers. Michael Clarke Duncan (Coffey) and Hanks delivered powerful performances in this film that was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
‘Saving Private Ryan’
Saving Private Ryan was nominated for an impressive 11 Oscars in 1999, including one for Hanks’ performance as Captain Miller. The film follows Miller and his crew on their journey to find Private First Class James Francis Ryan during the Normandy War.
In 2014, the film was added to the National Film Registry. Each year, 25 films that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” are added to the registry to be preserved for future generations. The film has been praised for its realistic and vivid depiction of war and is often referred to as one of the great war films.
Hanks shows no signs of slowing down. In addition to Toy Story 4, the actor has several other movies in the works including A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, a film about beloved children’s show star, Fred Rogers, and A Man Called Ove.
